USA > Kansas > Brown County > Annals of Brown County, Kansas : from the earliest records to January 1, 1900 > Part 61
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Geo. H. Adams was born October 9, 1852 at Steubenville, Ohio, and was raised on a farm and educated in a country school. He came to Hiawa- tha in 1876 and went into the hard- ware business in partnership with W. H. Woods. This partnership lasted for three years when Mr. Adams bought out his partner and continued the business alone. It grew steadily until it became one of the big businesses of Hiawatha. A furniture department was added to
Mr. Adams has been actively iden-
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
.
CHARLES W. WELLCOME.
tified with the business interests of company. For a number of years he Hiawatha and has always been rec- has been a director in the Morrill & ognized as one of its leading and Janes bank. He is a member of the most enterprising citizens. He was Masonic Fraternity, belonging to the elected upon the first board of direc- Lodge, Chapter and Commandry tors of the Academy and has served and has served for three terms as continuously in that capacity ever Eminent Commander, of Hiawatha since, For six years he was a direc- Commandry. No. 13, K. T.
tor in the Kansas Mutual Life Insur- ance Company. He helped organize the Commercial club and is one of 1te trustees.
C. W. Wellcome.
C. W. Wellcome, the president of
He was interested in the organiza- the Hiawatha Commercial club, has tion of the Hiawatha Electric Light been a resident of Hiawatha for over Company and is the president of the thirty years. He was born in
514
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
RESIDENCE OF C. W. WELLCOME
Franklin Co. Maine, March 31, 1850. When he was six years old the family moved to Washara County, Wiscon- sln and later to Green Lake County. Here he grew to manhood on the farm. In 1870 in company with bis brother, William, and two other young men, set out in a covered wagon to see the country. The party finally landed în Brown Coun- ty and Mr. Wellcome went to work on a farm near old Fairview. Soon after this Mr. Wellcome came to Hia- watha and secured employment in the Gaskill elevator. In 1874 he went to Kansas City and completed the course in the Spaulding Business College. He then went to work for Graves & Macey in their lumber yard.
In 1887 he formed a partnership with J. D. Blair and the firm of Wellcome & Blair continued in the lumber busi. ness until 1898 when Mr. Wellcome bought out Mr Blair's interest. He sold the lumber business in 1900 and was out of business for a year. He then purchased a hardware business in Hiawatha which he ran for a year. Selling this business he purchased the lumber yard and is again doing busi- nese at the old stand.
Mr. Wellcome has been city clerk of Hiawatha and for six consecutive years he served on the city council being president of that body. He has been an Odd Fellow for nearly a quarter of a century and will receive the veterans badge next spring He helped organize the Hiawatha Elec- tric Light Co., and has been its vice president for seven years. He helped organize the Northeastern Kansas Telephone Co., and was the first president of the corporation. He is a stockholder, a director and the vice president of the Brown County Fair Association. He was one of the organizers of the Commercial club and is serving his third year as president of the club.
Mr. Wellcome was married in 1884 to Mise Lou Herbert, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Herbert. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wellcome are members of the First Presbyterian church of Hiawatha.
Frank Daeschner.
Frank Daeschner, the enterprising hardware merchant of Hiawatha, was born July 19, 1858, in Cain Coun- ty, Ill. When he was eight years old In 1880 he was made manager for the the family moved to Richardson Henry, Barker & Co. lumber Co. and County, Neb., where he grew to later with the Henry & Coatsworth manhood on the farm receiving the Co. and had a general supervision education furnished by the district over the other Brown County yards. school of his locality. He spent a
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
T-R.ÉNG:DO KIC
FRANK DAESCHNER
couple of years in Texas and Califor- chased the George H. Adams stock nia and then returned to Richardson of hardware in Hiawatha and has County, Neb., and purchased a devoted his energies for the past quarter section of land a mile from two years to making this business a the Kansas line. Here he resided un- success. He has given special atten- til the spring of 1899 when he moved tion to furnace work and has to Hiawatha purchasing the O. C. equipped quite a number of residences Hill property. He was a successful and public buildings with complete, farmer and stock raiser building up up to date heating plants during a fine herd of Poland China swine this time.
and other fancy stock.
Mr. Daeschner is an active church In June 1900 Mr. Daeschner pur- and Sunday School worker. He is a
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
RESIDENCE OF FRANK DAESCHNER
member of the Evangelical Church of were married Feb. 23, 1888 and are this city, is a member of the board of now the proud parents of four chil- directors of the church, superintend- dren named Esther, Wesley, Ruth ent of the Sunday School and pres- and Frank, Jr .. ident of the Young Peoples Alliance. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Kansas Conference Dr. E. J. Leigh. branch of the Young Peoples Alli- Dr. E. J. Leigh is a native Kansas and the youngest son of Dr. J. Leigh, one of the pioneer physicians of Kan- ance, an organization which includes Kansas, Missouri and part of Okla- homa, and has served three times as sas. He was born July 31, 1860 at president of the Conference Branch. Iowa Point at that time the prin-
Before coming to Hiawatha, Mr. cipal distributing point on the Mis- Daeschner served as a member of the sour! River for the entire country west of St. Louis. In 1864 his par- ents moved to Highland where .he received his college education, gradu- ating from Highland University in
school board, as township clerk and as a justice of the peace. He is now one of the directors in the Blue Valley Mutual Insurance Co. He is a Woodman being a member of Oak 1881, dividing the honors of his class Leaf Camp at Hiawatha
and receiving the degree of A. B. In
Mr. Daeschner found a happy com- 1884 the University conferred upon panion in the person of Miss Kate bim the degree of A. M. for contin- Schaible of Falls City, Nebr. They uous work along literary lines. Im-
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
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DR. EBBERLY J. LEIGH
mediately after graduation he began and promoters of the Life and An- the study of medicine and took a nulty Association having been 1ts graded course at Rush Medical Col- Medical Director since it was first lege of Chicago, Ill., receiving his de- organized under the name of the gree of M. D. with the class of Pryamid Builders. The standing 1884. Upon graduation he located and financial condition of this Asso- in Hiawatha, practicing with his ciation is second to none in the state father for a number of years thereby and the present excellent showing is receiving the benefits of his exper- generally conceeded to be largely the lence and advice which no doubt has result of his fidelity to its Interests contributed no small amount not and excellent judgment in the selec- only to his success as a practitioner tion of risks.
but the volume of business which he enjoys.
When Oak Leaf Camp of the Modern Woodmen was organized in
Dr. Leigh was one of the founders this city Dr. Leigh was one of its
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
RESIDENCE OF E. J. LEIGH
charter members. He has been Ven- erable Consul of the camp and its local examiner ever since its organ- ization. He is also au Odd Fellow having passed through the chairs and is now a Past Grand of Hiawa- tha Lodge.
He was married on February 10, 1892 to Miss Annie L. Herbert, young- est daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Herbert. They have a nice little cot- tage home on East Oregon street. Both Dr. and Mrs. Leigh are mem- bers of the First Presbyterian church of Hiawatha.
Horace Amann.
Horace Amann of the firm of G. Amann & Son, the popular hard- ware dealers of Hiawatha, is the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Amann of Hiawatha. He was born in Hia- watha June 10, 1868 and graduated from the city school with the class of 1887. Soon after graduation lie
went into business; with his father. He has been the manager of the busi- ness for years and has made it pay because he studied the wants of his customers and always gave them good values for their money.
He is serving his second term on the city council and is the chairman of the Ways and Means committee in that body. He is a Mason and a Workman. He has been Receiver of the A. O. U. W. lodge for the last ten years, is treasurer of the Fireman's Relief Fund and is a director in the Hiawatha Cemetery Society and has been its treasurer ever since the or- ganization of the corporation.
Mr. Amann was married June 24, 1891 to Miss Minnie Grimes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Grimes of Hia- watha, and a graduate of the Hia- watha High School class of 1887. They have two children: Bernice and Horace Jr.
HORACE AMANN
519
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
RESIDENCE OF DR. W. M. SHIRLEY.
William M. Shirley.
for many years. In 1885 he was ap-
Prominent among the successful pointed a member of the state board business and professional men of of Dental Examiners by Gov. Martin Hiawatha stands Dr. William M. and re-appointed by Gov. Humphrey four years later serving eight years In all on this board. Shirley. He was born in Virginia, Cass County, 111 , March 5, 1848. His boyhood was spent on the farm and. Dr. Shirley has? always taken an when he was old enough he learned active part in the public enterprises of the carpenter trade. He came to the community. He has served on Hiawatha In January 1868 and be- the city council. He helped organize gan contracting and building and the Hiawatha Building and Loan followed this business for seven years Association, was a director in it for when he went east and took a a number of years and Its president dental course. Returning to Hia- for two years. He helped organize watha in 1878 he opened a dental of- the Hiawatha Electric Light Co. and fice and has devoted his time exclu- was a director as long as; he was a sively to that business ever since. stock holder. He was a stock hold- For twenty-three years he has occu- er in the old fair association and for pied the same rooms over the Morrill a number of years was financial Sec- and Janes bank. Competitors have retary of the Association. He was come and gone but the Doctor's busi- one of the managers of the Lecture ness has always been successful and Association in the days when Hla- lucrative. He has made an art of watha boasted of the best lecture his profession and the latest ap- association in the state. He is a pliances and new discoveries have Mason, belonging to the lodge, the always found in him a patron. He chapter and the Eastern Star and at 1s a member of the Kansas State the present time he is serving Hia- Dental Society and was the president watha Lodge as its Senior Warden. of the society in 1889-90. He helped He has also been Worthy Patron of organize the Kansas City Dental the Star. College and was one of its trustees
Dr. Shirley was married July 8,
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
WILLIAM O. BECHTEL.
1880 to Miss Ameda E. Ellis of Oblo Dec. 20, 1846. He attended the Hamiin. Their handsome home in common schools and then took a east Hiawatha was built in 1893. It course in the Lexington Academy. is one of the best of the many fine Here he fitted himself for a teacher homes in Hiawatha being modern in and for fifteen years he followed that style and equipped with all the vocation. In 1872 he came to Brown modern conveniences. Both Dr. and County and purchased a farm four ' Mrs. Shirley are members and active miles east of Hiawatha. This he workers in the First Presbyterian church of Hiawatha and the Doctor is one of the elders of the church.
W. O. Bechtel.
improved and here he resided until 1890 when he came to Hiawatha as manager of the Alliance store. He managed this business successfully for a year and then purchased an in- terest in the Hiawatha mill since
W. O. Bechtel, the senior member which time he has given his whole of the milling firm of Bechtel & Mc- time and attention to the milling Guire was born in Morrow County, business. During this time the mill
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
has been remodeled and fitted with up to date machinery, its output vastly increased and its field extend- ed very materially until it has be- come one of the paying enterprises of the city.
Mr. Bechtel is recognized as one of the progressive, pushing citizens of Hiawatha. He has been a member of the school board and has served the Woodmen for two years as Ven- erable Consul. He is an active church worker holding his membership with the Methodist Church. For three years he was superintendent of the Sunday School work. At the last County Convention of the Sunday School workers he was elected Presi- dent of the county organization and Is now serving in that capacity.
Mr. Bechtel was married in 1876 to Miss Mary J. Jeffries. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Jeffries, pioneer settlers of Robinson Township. HENRY HAMANN They have four children-Solomon, a graduate of the Kansas City Den- his business ability and he is justly tai college and now in busines in St. popular with them. Joseph Mo .; Ada, a graduate of the Mr. Knabb was married in 1892 to Academy class of 1901 and now a Miss Della Edgerton, daughter of student at Baker University and Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Edgerton of this Mary and Eva, students in the city city. They have a beautiful home in schools.
William Knabb.
William Knabb, the cashier of the First National Bank of Hiawatha was born in Brown County June 4, 1867 and is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Knabb. He attended the state Agricultural college at Mai- battan graduating with the class of 1889. Returning from college he entered the employ of the First
east Hiawatha. They have one child, Charles, age two years.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Knabb are members of the First Presbyterian church of Hiawatha. Mr. Knabb was superintendent of the Sun- day school for a number of years and is an active worker in all lines of church enterprises.
Henry Hamann.
Henry Hamann, the proprietor of National Bank as book keeper and the Hamann shoe store, the only ex- gradually advanced step by step to clusive shoe store in Hiawatha, was his present position of cashier. He born in Jackson County, Ind., in 1873. is · public spirited and progressive. He lived on a farm until 1890 when The patrons of the bank recognize he went to Jonesville, in that state
. .
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
HAL A. FAIRCHILD.
and sold drugs. In 1891 he entered a everything, but we do seil shoes," department store in Columbus, Ind., has become familiar to the people of where he clerked until 1897 when he Brown County. came to Hiawatha and entered the
Mr. Hamann was married January employ of Blerer, Shadel & Co., re- 13, 1897 to Miss Sophia Meyer, eldest maining with this firm until January daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. 1899 when he went into business for Meyer of this city. They have a himself. He is a bright young busi- family of three boys, Karl, Harland, ness man, thoroughly well posted in and Herschel. Both Mr. and Mrs. the shoe business, a close buyer and Hamann are members of the Luther- one who keeps well informed on an church and Mr. Hamann is one of market prices and styles. Hle busi- the elders of the church and a mem- ness has grown steadily and he has ber of the board of trustees.
demonstrated that there is room in . At the last city election Mr. Hiawatha for an exclusive shoe Hamann was elected a member of store, and his motto, "We don't sell the Board of Education from the
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
RESIDENCE OF SEWARD GRAHAM.
Second Ward. This is the only time years at Newburg and during this he has ever been a candidate for time superintendended a six months' office.
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H. A. Fairchild.
plumbing job at the West Point Military Academy receiving a high recommendation from the superin teudent where the job was finished.
H. A. Fairchild, the leading plumb- In 1894 he came to Hiawatha and er of Hiawatha, was born in this opened a shop. Here he has built up city October 15, 1869 and is the son of a good business, doing not only the Raymond S. Fairchild, the pioneer work of this city, but much of the merchant of Brown County. Here- best class of work in all of the sur- sided in Hiawatha until 1883, when rounding towns. He carries a good he went with his people to Callfor- stock of goods and one much larger nia. Here he learned the plumbing than is usually found in cities of this business. After three years in Cali- size. He is a Mason belonging to fornia he spent a year in one of the Hiawatha lodge No. 35 but to no best shops in St. Joseph, Mo., and other lodges.
.then returned to Callfornia for Mr. Fairchild was married October another years work. In 1891 he 23, 1895 to Miss Nettie Meisenhelmer, went to New York City and took a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Meisen- three month's course in the City helmer of this city. Mrs. Fairchild is Trade School. He spent a couple of a graduate of the Hiawatha High
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
RESIDENCE OF D. N GRAHAM.
School, class of 1888. They have one and have been residents of Hiawa- child, a daughter, Margaret, flve tha ever since.
years of age.
Graham Brothers.
Seward Graham began the cloth. ing business in the employ of S. Hes- selberger in 1882. He staid with him a year and then held a situation in Topeka for a short time and then went onto the road for Baden of St. Joe. He was a successful salesman and has followed the business ever
Among the eminently successful business firms of Hiawatha is that of Graham Brothers, clothing mer- chants and fine tailors. This firm since and for the past six years he was established in the spring of 1891 has been on the road for Fleisher and for eleven years it has been do- Bros. of Philadelphia. He is a Mason Ing a fine business in Hiawatha. It and a Woodman. He was married has four branch stores having opened in 1891 to Miss Mary Dilling of Has- in Sabetha in 1895, Auburn, Nebr., In tings, Nebr. They have two sons 1899, Hebron, Nebr., in 1901 and Sen- Norrith and Hilton. They have a handsome home in the east part of
McLain County, Ill. The former eca in 1902, in each case taking into partnership the young man installed Hiawatha. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gra- as local manager. The two brothers, ham are members of the First Con- Seward and Dilbert N. were born in gregational Church of Hiawatha.
Dilbert N. Graham is the manag- July 8, 1860 and the latter Sept. 7, ing partner of the firm of Graham 1862. They came to Kansas in 1881 Bros. He began work for S. Hessel-
T-B.ENGYOUUKE
E. HARRINGTON
1
CHAS. KNABB.
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
berger in the spring of 1882 and stald with him for three years. He then worked for Lawrence & Bierer until Feb. 1888 when he became a partner in the firm of Bierer, Lawrence & Co. This firm was dissolved in 1891 and Mr. Graham started the present business which has grown to its present grand proportions under his skillful management. He is a Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias and has been Chancellor Commander of the K. P. lodge. He has also served on the city council.
Mr. Graham was married May 8, 1889, to Miss Mary Speer of Brown County. They have two children, Finley and Grace. Both Mr. and Mrs. Graham are members of the First Congregational church of Hia- watha ..
The firm of Graham Bros., is up to date and progressive. Its members have faith in Hiawatha and they al- ways help liberally any public enter. prise. They have made their busi- ness a success by good management and careful attention and today it is recognized as one of the best of the many good businesses of Hiawatha.
R. V. Brokaw.
R. V. BROKAW.
whenthe went to Belle Plaine where he continued the same business. In September 1891 he came to Hiawa- tha entering the establishment of L. R. Yates as prescription clerk. Here he remained until a year ago when he purchased the Family Drug Store of R. D. McFadden. He Is recognized as one of the pushers of the com- munity. He is an active worker in the Knights of Pythlas Lodge and is at the present time Deputy Grand Chancellor for the Eleventh District. He is also an active and influential member of the Woodmen fraternity. In politics he is a Republican and has served on the county central committee and was secretary of the committee for two years. Mr. Bro- kaw was married December 29, 1887 to Miss Luella Parker. They have one child, a daughter.
R. V. Brokaw, proprietor of the Family Drug Store was born in Mid- dlebush, New Jersey, January 2, 1864. He comes from French Huguenot stock hls ancestors settling in New York and New Jersey in an early day. In 1870 the family came to Paola, Kansas and here he resided for thir- teen years. In 1870 he went to work for the Missouri Pacific Railway. In 1881 he studied pharmacy at Louisburg, Kansas and later went into the drug business in the town of M. E. Yost. Jetmore. In January 1888 he re- M. E. Yost, the head of the firm of moved to Caldwell, where he contin. Yost & Sons, furniture dealers and ued in the drug business, until 1889 funeral directors, was born in York,
526
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
M. E. YOST.
Pa., January 11, 1850. At sixteen he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker and spent five years learning his trade in the good old fashioned wav. In 1871 he commenced business in the furniture and undertaking line at New Freedom, Pa., where he con- tinued in business for eight years. In 1879 he moved to Ottawa, Kansas and two years later came to Hiawa- tha, where he opened a furniture store and undertaking establish- ment. This business has grown steadily until now it is recognized as one of the best in Hiawatha. In 1892 Mr. Yost erected his fine brick block to accomodate his business. The building is 32x116 feet, contains two stories and a work room with a fine pressed brick and plate glass front. Two years ago Mr. Yost gave his two sons, Curtis P. and Nevin C., a working interest in the
business and the firm is now M. E. Yost & Sons. With close attention to business and fair and honest deal- ings have succeeded in securing a large patronage holding certificates from several schools, practical em- balmers and with the facilities for funeral work together with the large line from the cheapest up to the most expensive. They are pre- pared to furnish anything on short notice. They also hold an embalm- ers License.
Mr. Yostis an Odd Fellow, a Wood- man, a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security and has served on the city council a number of terms. He was married May 25, 1871 to Miss Lydia H. Mehring, of Littletown, Pa. They have a family of three children, one daughter and two sons. The daughter is the wife of A. J. Eicholtz, the Hiawatha druggist, and the sons Curtis P. and Nevin C. are partners in the business with their father. Nevin, the younger son,
THY BLOCK
YOST BLOCK.
527
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
was married In 1901 to Miss Fannie E. Radford, -of Hiawatha. Mr. and Mrs. Yost and Mr. and Mrs. Elcholtz are members of the Methodist Church and Nevin C. . and wife are members of the First Baptist Church of this city.
Charles H. Lawrence.
military service and served from 1863 to the close of the war. After the war he continued to railroad in the south until 1870.
In the spring of 1871 he came to Hia- watha and went into the real estate business. He was elected Constable of Hiawatha Township in 1873 and re-elected in 1874. He was also dep- uty sheriff of Brown County and held the office for two years. He broke up the gang of horse thieves that were operating in the county and landed five of them in the peniten- tlary. On leaving the sheriff's office
Charles H. Lawrence, the genial Secretary of the Hiawatha Commer- clal Club, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y. May 13. 1844. He re- ceived a two years course in Clark Seminary at Aurora, Ill. and then began making a living for himself. he purchased the harness business from J. O. Gardner and ran this un. til 1883 when he sold the business to J. C. Kelsey. He was city clerk of Hiawatha from 1887 to 1891, serving through the troublesome times when the water works system was being installed in Hiawatha. He was one of the organizers of the Electric Light Company and was its secre- tary for a number of years. He has always been an enthusiastic worker in the county fair and was secretary of the association for eleven years. When the Commercial club was or- ganized in Hiawatha Mr. Lawrence was at once picked upon for secre- tary of the club and he has performed the duties of that office to the ut- most satisfaction of the members of the club looking carefully after the details of the office and never letting an opportunity go by to boom Hia- watha and her business Interests.
C. H. LAWRENCE.
He was anxious to be a soldier dur- ing the war and enlisted three times but was rejected on account of a broken shoulder received while a awatha Commandery, No. 13 K. T. boy. He then went Into the railway
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